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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Bronchoterms you should know

This post originally published at healthcentral.com/asthma on 10/24/11 as "Asthma 'Bronchoterms' you should know.

If you're an asthmatic you should know the following bronchoterms.

1. Broncho: If you're an asthmatic you should know that broncho comes from the Greek word bronchos which means windpipe.

2. Bronchus (Bronchi): The main air passages of the lungs. Often refers to the large airways, such as the trachea or windpipe.

3. Bronchioles: These are the smaller air passages in the lungs. They branch from the bronchi deep into the lungs.

4. Bronchiole smooth muscles: These are muscles that wrap around the bronchioles.

5. Bronchospasm: This term refers to bronchiole smooth muscle spasms that squeeze the bronchioles causing an obstruction.

6. Beta Adrenergic Receptors: These are receptors that are scattered throughout bronchiole smooth muslces that, when stimulated, cause bronchiole smooth muscles to relax and thus become dilated.

7. Beta Adrenergic: This refers to any medicine (like Albuterol) that binds with beta adrenergic receptors on bronchiole smooth muscles. A reaction then occurs that causes those smooth muscles to relax and this ultimately dilates the air passages. This ultimately can make an asthmatic quickly breathe better.

8. Bronchodilator: Any medicine that dilates the air passages (bronchioles) in the lungs, including beta adrenergics like Albuterol and Xopenex.

9. Rescue medicine: Any beta adrenergic medicine. It's called rescue medicine because it's been known to provide instant relief from asthma symptoms.

10. Rescue inhaler: This is an inhaler with asthma rescue medicine in it; a beta adrenergic. Examples include albuterol and xopenex.

11. Albuterol: An asthma rescue medicine.

12. Xopenex: An asthma rescue medicine.

13. Bronchodilatoraholic: Anyone who uses a rescue inhaler more than what is recommended by the manufacturer, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and asthma guidelines, but with permmission by a physician. It's excessive use, but permissive use. An example here would be a hardluck asthmatic who needs to use rescue medicine more frequently than once or twice in a two week period or more frequently than every 4-6 hours. Antonym: Bronchodilator abuser.

14. Bronchodilator abuse: Use of asthma rescue medicine to excess, for reasons not recommended, and without permission by a physician. Examples here include use due to anxiety, habit, or as a performance enhancer.

15. Bronchodilator abuser: A person who participates in bronchodilator abuse.

17. Compliant Asthmatic: Any asthmatic who uses his rescue medicine as recommended by a physician, even if the dose and frequency is more than recommended by the manufacturer. See Gallant Asthmatic.

18. Off Label: Use of a medicine in ways not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and not recommended by the pharmaceutical company. It refers to any of the following:

Using unapproved dosing

Using a medicine for an unapproved conditions

Prescribing a medicine for an unapproved age group

Despite contrary belief, prescribing medications off label is perfectly legal in the United States. This is a good thing because it allows doctors a right to use a medicine to its full potential and this greatly benefits patients. In this way, bronchodilatoraholism is legal and bronchodilator abuse is illegal.